Unceded Anishinaabe Algonquin Territories [OTTAWA], 13 June 2025:
As world leaders arrive for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, civil society groups are calling on Prime Minister Carney to stand up for climate ambition and justice.
Caroline Brouillette, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, said: “This summit will be a test: which leaders are still committed to advancing climate cooperation and human rights, even as the U.S. sprints backwards? And what kind of leadership is Canada really showing to the world?
“Tens of thousands of people across the Prairies have fled their homes over the last few weeks because of climate change-driven wildfires. The air is still thick with smoke. And Prime Minister Carney has invited a convicted criminal and climate denier who has threatened Canada’s sovereignty into the country—at the same time as our own government is shoving a bill through Parliament that threatens our environment, democratic processes, and Indigenous rights.
“We can’t keep falling back on the same fossil-fuelled, extractive approaches that have generated the crises we’re in. World leaders in Kananaskis this weekend must face reality and act now to implement strong climate policies and transition their economies from fossil fuels to renewable energy.”
Prime Minister Carney’s priorities for the G7 Summit reference responding to wildfires and building energy security, but make no direct mention of fighting climate change.
Climate Action Network Canada is calling on G7 leaders to hold firm on their previous climate commitments, with no backsliding, and build on legacy initiatives, while forming new coalitions of the willing to counterbalance the effect of Trump. With the eyes of the world on Canada, it’s time for Prime Minister Carney to pick a path between doubling down on fossil fuels, or kick-starting the clean energy transition to a healthier, more resilient economy.
This G7 Presidency offers Canada the opportunity to champion debt relief and financial reform; to advance fossil fuel subsidy phase-out; and to stand up for workers’ rights, gender equality, and a Just Transition. It’s also a chance to build on Canada’s past leadership on nature protection, and ensure that the 30×30 target and nature finance promises are upheld, as well as on adaptation and tackling plastics pollution.
Quotes from civil society, media-friendly events, and resources follow.
Quotes:
Joy Kennedy, Co-Convenor, Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate:
“The greatest security threat today is climate change. It destabilizes economies, communities, and ecosystems, and creates anxiety, protectionism, militarization, and displacement, and builds distrust among nations. It’s time to tell the truth and act together for a future of resilience and hope.”
France-Isabelle Langlois, Executive Director, , Amnistie internationale Canada francophone:
“Climate disasters claim hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide every year, and have devastating consequences for economies. G7 members must not back down on their commitments to fight climate change. Subsidies for fossil fuels must be phased out and redirected to investment in renewable energies. G7 members must invest adequately in a just transition.”
Amara Possian, Canada Team Lead, 350.org:
“As one of the world’s richest, most polluting countries, Canada has a responsibility to lead on climate justice and Prime Minister Carney should use the G7 presidency to raise the bar. To do our fair share, Canada must triple climate finance through grants, cancel Global South debt, make polluters and billionaires pay, and end trade rules that block climate action. This is a defining test of Canada’s commitment to long-term security and prosperity.”
Cathy Orlando, National Director, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada :
“The G7 must rise above political disruption and lead with courage, compassion, and cooperation. The climate crisis and global inequality demand action rooted in justice and evidence. Let this be the summit where we shaped history, not just remembered it.”
Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist, Greenpeace Canada
“Canada has invited world leaders to fly into a country that is on fire but won’t put the climate crisis on the agenda. One of Canada’s official priorities for this G7 meeting is to improve joint responses to wildfires, but for fear of offending Trump there is no mention of addressing the climate crisis or transitioning away from the fossil fuels that cause it.”
Justin Murgai, CEO, WaterAid Canada:
“As wildfires intensify across Canada, contaminating water and straining fragile systems, the climate crisis is making it clear: safe water is essential to health, security and resilience. The global GDP is projected to fall by up to 6% by 2050 due to water scarcity, meaning we need a new economics of water—one that ensures water is managed efficiently, equitably, and sustainably for all. G7 leaders must act now, as water action is climate action, and investing in resilient water, sanitation and hygiene systems is vital to both climate response and economic stability.”
Kathleen Moleski, Bank Team Lead, Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet (GASP):
“GASP is discouraged to see how quickly the climate crisis has fallen to the bottom of the priorities list during and following the federal election, and in the rest of the world, in response to the new world order coming out of the United States. GASP urges our new government not to abandon the climate issue and to put it on the agenda for the upcoming G7 summit and afterwards.”
Darron Seller-Peritz, Policy Analyst and Program Officer, Cooperation Canada:
“The time is now for G7 leaders to show real commitment by driving a just energy transition, protecting the environment, and responding to the climate crisis with equity and urgency. While the world is a shared responsibility, the cost of safeguarding it must be borne by those most responsible for its harm.”
Anjali Appadurai, Campaigns Director, Climate Emergency Unit:
“The wildfire smoke travelling across the continent reminds us that climate change knows no borders. As one of the highest-polluting and wealthiest countries, Canada must step up to meet the Global South’s requirements for international climate cooperation. It is in our deepest collective interest to take urgent, ambitious action on climate finance, debt cancellation, making polluters pay, and global financial reform. No one will be safe unless all of us are safe.”
Events
G7 Rally for Indigenous Water Rights & Water Security
Sunday, June 15, 2025, 12-2 pm, at Calgary City Hall
Rally is co-organized by Calgary Climate Hub, Keepers of the Water, Indigenous Climate Action, Piikani Nation Members, Migrante Alberta, Jubilee, Justice for Palestinians, and CUPE, with support from Reconciliation Action Group and We’re Together Ending Poverty.
June 12-15, 2025, at Ambrose University in Calgary
Includes Indigenous, faith and political dignitaries, global partners, community-building, learning, prayer, and public action in support of global and ecological debt justice. Speakers include representatives from Peru, Guatemala, West Bank and Kenya.
The forum is part of the Jubilee 2025: Turn Debt into Hope campaign, calling for the cancellation of unjust debt and urgent financial reforms to address the roots of recurring debt crises, and addressing ecological debt.
G7 at the Table: stand with the billions, not the billionaires
Citizens Climate Lobby: Through our G7 At The Table initiative, volunteers invite newly elected MPs to share a meal and engage in meaningful dialogue in advance of the summit, where key issues such as climate, democracy, debt, human rights, and multilateralism will be discussed.
Greenpeace International: Launch of the Polluters Pay Pact
Thursday, June 19
The Polluters Pay Pact is a global alliance of communities on the frontlines of climate disasters, concerned citizens, first responders like firefighters, humanitarian groups and political leaders.
Resources
Climate and Cooperation in Crisis: The G7 and Global South in a Shifting Order
Webinar co-organized by the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy and Climate Action Network Canada, with H.E. Rieaz Shaik (High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Canada), Henri-Paul Normandin, Caroline Brouillette, Li Shuo, Alden Meyer, and Johnsen Romero.
Think 7 Recommendations on Environment and energy, from the International Institute for Sustainable Development
Based on five policy briefs including how the G7 can advance action on fossil fuel subsidies.
In 2025, the Civil 7 (C7) brings together hundreds of voices from dozens of countries, within and beyond the G7. It reflects the positions of civil society actors looking to make progress around four priority themes: Climate, Energy, and Environment; Economic Justice; Humanitarian Action and Peace; and Sustainable Development. Across all these priority areas, CSOs represented in the C7 are working to drive change and safeguard civic space against the backdrop of the rising repression of human rights and democracy.
“The Labour 7 urges members of the G7 to overcome divisions and to reaffirm their commitment to uphold human rights and international humanitarian law, as well as to promote peace and respect for the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.” Full statement available on the Canadian Labour Congress website.
Women 7 Communique Ahead of G7 Summit
The W7 is a G7 engagement group that provides recommendations to G7 leaders and officials. Sixty-three feminist activists from 20 countries contribute their priorities and perspectives. Eleven Canadian organizations are coordinating the 2025 W7.
Water Cannot Wait: Call for Canada’s Leadership of the G7 Water Coalition
WaterAid, One Drop, UNU-INWEH and others issued a statement yesterday (June 12) on global water security, including a transformative 5-year workplan for the G7 Water Coalition.
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Canada’s farthest-reaching network of organizations working on climate and energy issues, Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada is a coalition of more than 180 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. Our membership brings environmental groups together with trade unions, First Nations, social justice, development, health and youth organizations, faith groups and local, grassroots initiatives.
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Vicky Coo, Communications Manager
comms@climateactionnetwork.ca